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Why place The Hobbit below LOTR and The Silmarillion, particularly since Christopher Tolkien edited his father's papers so extensively to produce it? The Hobbit is thoroughly Tolkien Sr.'s work.
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You answer your question about as well as I could have a bit farther down.
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Perhaps the confusion lies in distinguishing between consistency of the mythology and canonicity of authorial intent?
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When The Hobbit was being written Tolkien wasn't sure that he wanted it to be a part of his mythologies, and so it includes much that otherwise shouldn't be in Middle-earth, such as giants in the Misty Mountains throwing rocks down the mountainside and a different characterization of orcs/goblins.
That being said, I think that I like Mithadan's order better than mine.